The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing till Wednesday on West Bengal government ’s plea challenging the interim bail granted to Congress’ Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan.
‘Action should be taken against police officers’
On an occasion when he wants to contest the elections, then suddenly you come to know. First of all, action should be taken against those police officers who failed to execute the NBWs. He was in judicial remand in connection with four cases registered at Nandigram police station and two more in neighbouring Khejuri, on charges including murder, attempt to murder and violations of the Arms Act.
CJI said, “These are 2007 FIRs. Pradhan was arrested on September 18, hours after the Trinamool Congress candidate withdrew and party chief Mamata Banerjee announced support for him.
“I have actively appeared for public interest groups and some of the accused. The state represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta requested for an urgent hearing stating that the bail granted by the Calcutta high court on September 29 did not consider the fact that Pradhan faces six criminal cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition agitation that included four murder cases. The bench, also comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said that it is unable to hear the matter as one of the judges (justice Bagchi) cited his appearance as a lawyer in the 2007 case in which Pradhan is an accused. So I have a personal conflict of interest as these cases relate to the agitation that took place between 2007 and 2010.”
The order was passed after one of the judges on the bench hearing the matter recused citing a “personal conflict of interest”. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said, “Let him contest and conclude the elections peacefully,” posting the matter for October 7. Mehta said that six non-bailable warrants were issued to him in these cases which is a serious fact to be considered while granting bail.
